Frequently Asked Questions

A Homam (also called Havan or Yaagam) is a sacred Vedic fire ritual in which offerings are made into a consecrated fire while Vedic mantras are chanted. The fire is considered a divine messenger — it carries the offerings and intentions of the devotee to the appropriate deity or cosmic force.

Homams have been performed for thousands of years and are prescribed in the Vedas as the most powerful form of collective prayer and intention-setting. Each Homam is dedicated to a specific deity or purpose — Ganapathi for obstacle removal, Mrityunjaya for health, Navagraha for planetary peace, and so on.

Dakshina is the sacred offering made to the priest in gratitude for performing the ritual. Unlike a commercial transaction, dakshina is a spiritual exchange — you are supporting the priest's livelihood and the continuation of the Vedic tradition.

Each pooja listing shows the suggested dakshina amount. This covers:

• The priest's time (1.5–5 hours of concentrated ritual)
• Cost of all ritual materials — flowers, ghee, sacred wood, fruits, etc.
• Prasadam preparation and packaging
• Live streaming setup and recording

The dakshina is not negotiable — it is the traditional and respectful way to honour the priest's service.

We accept:

• UPI — Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm (India)
• NEFT / IMPS — Bank transfer within India
• International wire transfer — For NRIs in UK, USA, UAE, Australia, Singapore, etc.
• UPI ID: tapovanampoojas@upi

For NRIs, we provide full bank details (including SWIFT/IBAN where applicable) via WhatsApp after confirming the booking. Please contact us on WhatsApp for the most up-to-date payment instructions.

Yes — all poojas include live streaming via WhatsApp Video Call or a private YouTube link. You will receive the streaming link 30 minutes before the ritual begins.

If you are in a significantly different timezone, we schedule the pooja at a time that works for both parties. If you cannot watch live, a full HD recording is sent to you via WhatsApp within 24 hours of the ritual. You will not miss a single moment of your pooja.

Your Sankalpa (sacred intention) is the most important element of the ritual. Before beginning, the priest will announce into the sacred fire:

• Your full name
• Your father's name
• Your Gothra (ancestral lineage)
• Your specific intention (health, prosperity, marriage, etc.)

If you do not know your Gothra, we use the universal Gothra of Kashyapa Muni — the default for all seekers. You will receive the full benefits of the ritual regardless. Simply provide your name and intention when booking via WhatsApp.

This is the most common question from NRI devotees, and the answer according to Vedic tradition is yes. The Vedas state that the power of a ritual lies in the intention (sankalpa) and the correct performance of the mantras and procedures — not physical proximity.

The sacred fire (Agni) has no geographical boundaries. For over two decades, devotees in 12+ countries have experienced profound results from poojas performed on their behalf by Dr. Aswanidev's team. The sincerity of the priest and the correctness of the procedure are what matter most.

"Wherever the name of the devotee is offered into the sacred fire, the fruits of the yajna reach the devotee." — Vedic tradition

Prasadam (sacred offerings returned from the ritual) is carefully packed and shipped via international courier within 3 days of the ritual.

Delivery times:

• UK: 7–10 business days
• USA: 10–14 business days
• UAE: 5–7 business days
• Australia & Singapore: 10–14 business days

Prasadam typically includes vibhuti (sacred ash), kumkum, turmeric, and sometimes fruits or sweets depending on the ritual. A small international shipping fee applies, confirmed at the time of booking.

All rituals are performed in Sanskrit — the original language of the Vedas. Dr. Aswanidev Tanthri follows the Kerala Namboothiri tradition, which preserves one of the most ancient and unmodified forms of Vedic chanting in existence today.

During the live stream, our team can provide explanations and commentary in English, Malayalam, Hindi or Tamil so you understand each step of the ceremony. Simply request your preferred language when booking.

• Standard poojas: At least 3–5 days in advance, to select an auspicious muhurtha (date and time)
• Major rituals (Vivaha Homam, Griha Pravesa, Kalasarpa Dosha): 2–3 weeks in advance
• UK Yaagam & Ayodhya Maha Yaagam: Register as early as possible — places are strictly limited

We always recommend booking on an auspicious date. When you contact us on WhatsApp, share your preferred date range and we will suggest the most powerful muhurtha within that period.

Many NRI families have lost track of their Gothra (ancestral lineage) over generations. This is completely fine.

When Gothra is unknown, we use the universal Gothra of Kashyapa Muni, which is the traditional default for all seekers without a known lineage. You will receive the full and complete benefits of the ritual. Simply mention "Gothra not known" when booking and we will handle the rest.

Absolutely — and we encourage it. Many poojas are especially powerful on specific tithi (lunar calendar dates). For example:

• Ganapathi Homam is most powerful on Chaturthi (4th lunar day)
• Mrityunjaya Homam is ideal on Pradosham or Shivaratri
• Navagraha Shanti is best performed on Saturdays

When you contact us on WhatsApp, share your preferred date range and we will recommend the most auspicious muhurtha within that period based on the Vedic Panchanga calendar.

Yes. Dr. Aswanidev Tanthri and his team can perform any Vedic ritual prescribed in the Agama or Tantra Shastra traditions. If you have a specific requirement not listed on our website — such as a Visheshabhi Shekam, a multi-day Yaagam, a temple-level ritual, or a ceremony for a very specific purpose — please contact us on WhatsApp with your requirements and we will provide a custom schedule and dakshina quotation.